Preliminary findings by a Joint Technical Investigative Committee have established that developers behind the collapsed building at Adenta New Site in the Greater Accra Region flouted building regulations, constructed without statutory approvals, and ignored official stop-work orders.
The committee, comprising structural engineering specialists and representatives from the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE), the Institution of Engineering and Technology, Ghana (IET-Gh), and the Architecture Registration Council (ARC), disclosed these findings in a joint statement issued on Monday, June 8, 2026.
According to the report, a three-storey building under construction at Adenta New Site collapsed on Wednesday, June 3, 2026. An additional floor was being added to the structure at the time of the incident.
Five people were trapped under the rubble. They have been identified as Margaret Kpeli (late 30s), Fred Atagba (late 30s), Solomon, Seyeram Dzigda (child), and David Dzigda (child).
Four occupants — Fred Atagba, Solomon, Seyeram Dzigda, and David Dzigda — were rescued alive with injuries and rushed to the 37 Military Hospital for treatment. Margaret Kpeli remains unaccounted for as rescue operations continue.
The committee stated that the project was undertaken without the requisite statutory approvals, including approved architectural and structural engineering drawings, building permits, and other mandatory technical documentation.
“The investigation further revealed that official stop-work directives issued by the Municipal Assembly were disregarded, and construction activities continued despite regulatory interventions,” the statement added.
The committee noted that the unauthorised vertical extension placed significant additional stress on a structure not designed to carry the extra load. It also observed that portions of the building remained occupied while construction was ongoing, heightening safety risks.
Investigators identified multiple structural deficiencies, including discontinuous load-bearing columns, poor-quality concrete, inadequate support systems, and improperly detailed reinforcement.
The collapse followed a progressive “pancake” failure pattern, where the failure of critical structural elements triggered a chain reaction across multiple floors.
Samples of concrete and steel reinforcement have been collected for laboratory testing to determine compliance with approved standards.
The committee has recommended that the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) secure the site and safely dismantle unstable sections of the building to prevent further incidents.